A Finger Lakes watershed official is voicing support for proposed state legislation aimed at reducing plastic packaging waste and improving recycling infrastructure across New York.
During a recent appearance on FLX Morning, Dr. Adam Effler discussed the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and how the measure could help address growing concerns about plastic pollution in waterways.
Effler, executive director of the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council, said the issue is evident during cleanup efforts around the Owasco Lake watershed.
“Based on our recent litter pickup event, I can attest to the prevalence of plastic packaging waste that accumulates around the watershed and shoreline areas,” Effler said.
According to Effler, the legislation would create a statewide packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure program while shifting the cost of managing packaging waste away from taxpayers and onto packaging producers.
“This legislation develops a packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure program and shifts the financial burden of managing packaging waste from taxpayers to the producers of packaging, while reducing the amount of packaging and plastic waste produced in New York state by 30%,” Effler said.
The proposal comes as environmental organizations across the Finger Lakes continue promoting conservation and anti-litter initiatives through programs like Lake Friendly Living Month.
Effler said many plastic products that consumers assume are recyclable still end up in landfills because recycling systems are not equipped to process them effectively.
“Unfortunately, many of the plastics that we would like to see as recyclable in New York State are not indeed recycled,” he said. “There’s not a great program in place to recycle those plastics, and so many of them end up getting discarded in landfills.”
Effler also warned about the long-term environmental impacts plastics can have once they enter lakes and waterways. As plastics break down over time, they create microplastics that are difficult to remove from water systems.
“As they decompose, they can lead to issues with what are called microplastics that can become ubiquitous throughout the water supply,” Effler said. “There really is no treatment process to remove them.”
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is currently being considered by state lawmakers before the end of the legislative session.
